New project, 60's Jacobsen. Anyone know anything about it?

Hey all.
I just picked up this early 60's Jacobsen tractor and I know next to nothing about it! Can anyone find a manual or tell me what they know?
Here's what I've got.
Kohler engine. Early 60's model. The first four didgits in the model number is 100A and the rest is scratched out. Bought it for $75 (I splurged ). I think it's a four speed. Three foreward and one reverse, but I can't get it to stick in gear.
I will tell you what I find, can if anyone wants I'll get better pictures.
Thanks for any help guys!

About all I know is that Jacobsen built tractors for a few different brands including ford, and I think they got taken over by New Holland

Thats a good solid old beast of a tractor, made from real steel and cast iron.

Yeah, I have yet to find a piece of plastic on it! Seems like it will hold up real nice.

i have a 1950 jacobsen engine. 2 cycle. shes really nice. i knew tht jacobsen made push mowers but not riding mowers!

Chopperhed wrote:

About all I know is that Jacobsen built tractors for a few different brands including ford, and I think they got taken over by New Holland

Thats a good solid old beast of a tractor, made from real steel and cast iron.

jacobsen and lawnboy were together to. some lawnboy pushmower frames had them sexy 1 1/2hp 2 cycle jacobsen

Messicks has listings for jacobsen and fords. There is a yahoo group for them as well.

I'm a ford nut, just cuz they are rare here. And I have a near mint 73

I found 5 for sale in Western Canada

Spring will change that.

Jacobsen, simplicity and allis chalmers all had a similar tractor design( back in the 60's/70's) - i believe most parts are interchangable.

Ya I found similar stuff. Jacobsens where aparently really good tractors. They made some of the Fords Copperhead.

Chopperhed wrote:

Messicks has listings for jacobsen and fords. There is a yahoo group for them as well.

I'm a ford nut, just cuz they are rare here. And I have a near mint 73

I found 5 for sale in Western Canada

Spring will change that.

i got a ford 5000 diesel. does tht count?

I don't think so, just the smaller ones!

BlackMountian88 wrote:

Hey all.
I just picked up this early 60's Jacobsen tractor and I know next to nothing about it! Can anyone find a manual or tell me what they know?
Here's what I've got.
Kohler engine. Early 60's model. The first four didgits in the model number is 100A and the rest is scratched out. Bought it for $75 (I splurged ). I think it's a four speed. Three foreward and one reverse, but I can't get it to stick in gear.
I will tell you what I find, can if anyone wants I'll get better pictures.
Thanks for any help guys!

is tht Kohler a cast iron block? and is the flywheel cast iron?

I think so, it's wicked heavy for such a small engine!

BlackMountian88 wrote:

I think so, it's wicked heavy for such a small engine!

yea tht thing will last longer than any knewer engine. they even put plastic carberators on them now. junk! does she run?

The old Kohlers from back then were cast iron and torquey. with the right gears, they will out pull any modern tractor with twice the hp.

No unfortunately not. It needs $110 worth of parts to be perfect.

Just to get it started I need a coil ($30). Other parts needed air filter and housing, muffler, and oil drain.

Once I get a job hopefully I can finish it up and get it going agian.

well, i hope u get tht sucker running. she looks reall nice.

that is a sweet looking tractor.

Keep an eye out for freebie parts. It's worth the trouble.

Thanks guys. I am looking, but I've never even seen another one I these motors. It's a Kohler K161 and the closest I've found was a Kohler K181 from a Ford.

Yeah that was the same issue i had with my 69 wheelhorse - needed a new magneto and that was like $120 ( even then it wasnt guarenteed to run), swapped a 5HP honda on it and then found the trans had issues, it just needed too much work , was in too bad of shape and was missing too many parts.


Ebay might have some parts you need - itd be worth it to go check out local tractor shows/swap meets for parts youre needing also.

Yes, I checked eBay. There's just so many different Kohler. There's the k161, but it was put in half a dozen different tractors and each one is slightly different. I thought about dropping a new motor in, I found a 40's Briggs for $40, but I like this one so much!

if u do end up using ebay, be carefull. i never had trusted them with my money.

Hmm ok. I didn't find anything on there.